But while Manning (197-for-299, 2,184 yards, 15 TDs, two interceptions, 109.8 QB rating) must be slowed for the Eagles (4-3) to emerge from their bye week with their customary victory, they also know they need to lock down the running game first. Otherwise they'll have absolutely no chance against a team that so far has thrived despite an endless array of injuries to produce a 5-2 record.

The last time these teams met, Manning was a sideshow. The real damage was done on the ground.

On Thanksgiving weekend of 2006, with the Colts on their way to a Super Bowl championship and the Eagles having been staggered by losing quarterback Donovan McNabb to a season-ending knee injury seven days earlier, an obscure rookie running back by the name of Joseph Addai suddenly thrust himself into the spotlight. Addai contributed 171 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in leading the Colts to a 45-21 victory.

That yardage total remains his career high.

Going back even further, to a 2002 meeting at Veterans Stadium, another obscure rookie running back by the name of James Mungro did basically the same thing. The East Stroudsburg High School graduate, playing in just his second NFL game, came through with 28 carries for 114 yards and two TDs as the Colts romped to a 35-13 triumph.

All of those numbers stand as career highs for Mungro, who went on to play three more seasons.

In fact, all three of Manning's wins over the Eagles — he's never lost to them — were highlighted by huge games from rookie running backs. In 1999, it was Edgerrin James (22 carries, 152 yards) starring in a 44-17 win.

This history lesson has led the Eagles to a logical conclusion:

"The key to stopping Manning is stopping the running game," Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said. "We've got to stop the run game, or it could be a problem. See what I'm saying?"

"You can get a little too focused on trying to figure Peyton out and all that stuff," Mikell said, "and you forget to do little things like I was saying — getting off blocks and tackling, and reading and holding gaps and stuff like that. So we have to make sure that we don't do that."

All this said, the Eagles should have an excellent chance to succeed in this game because of all the factors working against the Colts, who are on the road after a Monday night game against a team that had two weeks to prepare and is getting three offensive starters back after injury absences.

Then factor in the Colts injuries, which could prove to be devastating. Nine of their players weren't able to practice at all this past week. Two of them, defensive tackle Antonio Johnson and safety Bob Sanders, have already been ruled out. Another, Addai, is doubtful with a neck injury.

They have 11 players on the injured reserve list already.

"Here we are at 5-2 and we're signing new players each week," Manning said. "We have guys that are standing up on Wednesday and introducing themselves because we just signed them.

"... This is the third team we've faced coming off a bye week, and it always presents a tougher challenge because they've had more time to prepare, they're a little fresher. We're coming off a short week, so there's a lot things that are going to make it a tough week for us."

Because the Colts tend to play a lot of soft pass coverage schemes, they will present the biggest red-zone challenge yet for Vick, who has converted all six of his trips there into touchdowns. Still, the Eagles traditionally like to attack the end zone from much further out. That's what the Colts are best at preventing.

"The only thing you can do is plan and prepare and try to take advantage of what the defense is going to give you," Vick said. "You never know what's going to happen. It's hard for me to sit here and say are we going to get big plays down the field. Maybe, maybe not. You just have to wait until everything happens on the field and just see how it goes, but we're definitely going to try and see what we can do."

Running the ball more than usual is a distinct possibility because it limits the effectiveness of terrific edge rushers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis and shortens the game, giving Manning less chances to work his magic.

"The two teams that beat them did it that way and jumped out on top of them," Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "And other teams wanted to do it and then find themselves behind. It's all good unless you're 14 points behind or something like that. That's with every team, with every defense.

"They have such great pass-rush ability that you do need to do some things to counter that. There's many different ways to go about it, and I think we've got a pretty good plan. We'll see if it works."